Mets Game 161: Loss to Reds

Reds 5 Mets 4

Strange … nowhere in the Mets media guide, nor in the scorebook, nor on the Mets.com website does it say “September 27: Jose Reyes Day”. Yet clearly, this was his day.

Yet it wasn’t, because the Mets lost. Which was remarkable, considering that Reds manager Dusty Baker didn’t care much about the game, his players didn’t care much about putting forth any effort, and Cincinnati closer Francisco Cordero looked like he’d rather be sunbathing on a Caribbean beach with an umbrella drink by his side. A completely unsatisfying outcome for a baseball fan.

Mets Game Notes

In the first incarnation of this ballgame — one where the Mets win 4-3 — Jose Reyes was the hero, hitting two homeruns, making breathtaking fielding plays, stealing bases, and electrifying the Mets in every aspect.

Unfortunately, the second version began when Manny Acosta allowed two baserunners in the ninth, setting the stage for Bobby Parnell to once again show why he cannot be considered for the closer role in 2012.

I have been extremely disappointed with several examples of Cincinnati Reds dogging it / not hustling in these two games. That is a reflection on manager Dusty Baker, who is allowing it to happen. I know they are just “playing out the string”, but still — there are 162 games, and they are paid (handsomely) to participate in all 162. Shameful.

Even though the Reds are filled with dogs, they do execute fundamentals. The winning run came home on a perfectly executed suicide squeeze.

Once again, a pitcher went up and in to David Wright, dusting him, and then proceeded to paralyze him with curveballs on the outer half of the plate. And again, no response by the Mets pitching staff.

Ryota Igarashi worked out of three bases-loaded situations in this ballgame — and remember he worked out of one in the previous game as well. Finally! We’ve found his niche! Of course, there is the fact that he got himself into some of those bases-loaded situations …

Francisco Cordero nearly walked enough batters to give the Mets the ballgame — he was lucky to get Justin Turner to line into a game-ending DP. In fact, Nick Evans was thrown out on a botched hit-and-run by Josh Thole, and if that hadn’t happened, the Mets likely would have scored at least one run courtesy of Cordero’s four walks in the inning. How bad was he? Consider this: Coco threw 23 pitches, and only 6 were strikes.

Aroldis Chapman was clocked between 96-99 MPH, but it looked a lot faster than that. The ball is a blur coming out of his hand. To my eyes, Parnell doesn’t throw that fast, but the radar gun says otherwise. Movement will do that.

Final Mets Game

The final game of the 2011 season will begin at 1:35 PM on Wednesday afternoon. The Mets send Miguel Batista to the mound against the Reds’ Edinson Volquez. It could be the last MLB appearance of Batista’s career, which means it also could be the last time we ever see Batista (among others) in a Mets uniform.

Joe Janish began MetsToday in 2005 to provide the unique perspective of a high-level player and coach -- he earned NCAA D-1 All-American honors as a catcher and coached several players who went on to play pro ball. As a result his posts often include mechanical evaluations, scout-like analysis, and opinions that go beyond the numbers. Follow Joe's baseball tips on Twitter at @onbaseball and at the On Baseball Google Plus page.

In a past thread, I had a disagreement with some on Cappy. This start underlines, if the price is okay, why it’s not an issue if he comes back.

The guy provides consistency every fifth day, likely to keep you in the game. The Mets are likely to need to a sixth or even seventh pitcher at some point, so they can call a guy up eventually. Cappy was a good pick-up. This makes it more likely some other team picks him up for more than the Mets offer, I guess.

If this game helps the “Parnell isn’t closer stuff” realization, I will get something out of it. I as a whole was satisfied with the Mets year but I got to say the last six weeks or so was pretty depressing. They keep on finding a way to lose. And, Parnell helped repeatedly.

Acosta gives you something, then he doesn’t. On a mediocre team, that is what you are going to get in the pen. It sometimes is what you get on a decent team. He got you five outs, Parnell had to get the sixth. He didn’t and it was just a matter of time, apparently.

It is sad that the closer got out of it. A guy was warming up and according to the Mets announcers, there was already one visit to the mound. Unfortunately, a lineout ended things before the Reds could lose. Such is the nature of the Mets of late.